Modal and harmonic response analysis of a rolling bearing coupled by rigid and flexible materials

Elastic composite cylindrical roller bearing is a new type of rolling bearings. Its rolling body is composed of rigid and flexible materials. In order to investigate the modal characteristics and harmonic response rules of the elastic composite cylindrical roller bearings with different structural parameters, we computed the modal solutions of a cylindrical roller bearing and the elastic composite cylindrical roller bearings with filling degrees of 40%, 50% and 65%, and determined the scope of the excitation frequency according to the computed first twelve orders of the modal frequency. On this basis, we analyzed the steady-state response under a sinusoidal alternating load as well as the vibration conditions of the elastic composite cylindrical roller bearings with different filling degrees within the excitation scope, and explored the relationship between the responses such as displacement and stress and the excitation frequency. The results showed that the natural frequencies of the elastic composite cylindrical roller bearings with filling degrees of 40% and 50% were similar to that of a solid bearing, while that of the elastic composite cylindrical roller bearings with a filling degree of 65% was relatively smaller than that of a solid bearing. The vibration modes of the bearings mainly manifested as bending and torsional deformation of the inner rings. Under the action of an excitation load, the peak responses of the bearings occurred near the fifth and sixth orders of the natural frequency. This research can provide a theoretical reference for the optimal design and engineering applications of the elastic composite cylindrical roller bearings.